United set for pitch battle

Hastings United winger Taser Hassan takes on an opponent during last weekend's 1-1 draw at home to Worthing. Picture courtesy Joe Knight

Published:06:00Saturday 13 September 2014

Share this article

Terry White believes Hastings United will be at a disadvantage in an important FA Cup clash due to the pitch.

The U’s are away to Whyteleafe in a first round qualifying tie which will be played on their opponents’ artificial 3G surface today (Saturday).

United manager White said: “It’s got to be an advantage for them. They play on it every home game, probably train on it twice a week so players will get used to it.

“It’s going to be a new experience for us in terms of going up there and preparing on it, but it is what it is, they’re allowed now so we’ve got to go there and make the most of it.”

Regardless of the surface, the all-Ryman Football League Division One South encounter is sure to be a tough task for United, particularly with Tim Olorunda set to serve a one-match ban for his sending-off in the previous round, Jordan Johnson sitting out the last match of a three-game suspension and Kenny Pogue cup-tied.

Whyteleafe have made a decent start to the season with five wins and two draws from their first eight league games putting them fifth in the table. United are 10 places and eight points worse off.

“I’m not looking at the league table at the moment,” continued White, who planned to watch Whyteleafe in their 5-0 victory at home to East Grinstead Town on Tuesday night. “But it’s going to be a really, really tough game. We’ll go up there, apply ourselves properly, prepare properly and hopefully get a result.”